Search Results

Where To Stay: By Pike Place Market. I recommend The State Hotel . By Seattle Center. Hotels in this location would be closer to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, Museum of Pop Art and other sites located in the Seattle Center, but is a further distance from Pike Place Market and the waterfront. What To Do: Space Needle Seattle Center-Giant arts, sports and recreation plaza Seattle Monorail-Connects Downtown and Space Needle Chihuly Garden and Glass Pike Place Market Bill Speidel's Underground Tour Nordstrom Flagship Store Museum of Pop Culture Ferry Trip to Bainbridge Island Ferry Trip to Victoria (Day Trip or Overnight) Whale Watching Tours Pier 57/ Seattle Great Wheel Olympic Sculpture Park Amazon Biospheres Road Trip to Mt. Ranier Road Trip to Snoqualmie Falls/Cascade Mountain Range Road Trip to Eastern Washington Wine Country- Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyard Where To Eat: *Disclaimer: I am not a fan of seafood, coffee or microbrews. All things Seattle is known for and can easily be found on any street corner. Therefore, the suggestions in this section are especially for my fellow picky eaters who are looking for alternatives to the Seattle staples! The Pink Door . Read my detailed blog here . Daily Dozen Doughnut Company The Pike Pub and Brewery Beecher's Handmade Cheese Biscuit Bitch Armory Food and Event Hall-Food court in Seattle Center

Where should you make your home base when you visit Nashville? This is the first but most important question you must answer when planning your trip. Ask yourself what you plan to spend most of your time doing and then pick a location closest to most of the sights you want to see. Downtown: Usually the main focus of a visit to Nashville is bar crawling the honky tonks on Broadway. If this is your plan, or if you are attending a concert or sporting event at Bridgestone Arena or Nissan Stadium, you will want to stay in the central downtown area. There are many hotel choices downtown, but the prices tend to be a bit higher due to the prime location. The trade off is being able to walk a block or two to many of Nashville's attractions. This convenience will come in handy after a full day of sightseeing or bar hopping to listen to all the great music. I highly recommend the Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown . The location is fantastic and an added bonus is the incredible free hot breakfast as well as the free snacks and drinks at the 5:30 Kickback every day. The breakfast is more substantial than the usual free breakfast offered in hotels. They provide fresh scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, a waffle station and a cook making pancakes in adorable Music City shapes! The afternoon "snacks" include a full on dinner buffet with alfredo pasta, grilled chicken, garden salad and soup. You also get a punch card for three free drinks every day during your stay (cocktails, wine or beer!). Unfortunately we were usually out and about around 5:30 every day so only took advantage of the Kickback on the first day, but it was there if we wanted it. It can be a good way to keep your spending down as you can potentially cover two meals and drinks everyday! The Gulch : The first time I visited Nashville I stayed in an Airbnb in The Gulch. The Gulch is a newer upscale area with chic boutiques and trend-setting restaurants. It is a great place to stay, especially if you don't plan to spend a majority of your time on Broadway. Broadway is only a quick 15 minute walk away, but The Gulch is definitely removed from the craziness of the main downtown area if you prefer a more low key vibe. The Gulch is where the famous "What Lifts You Up" Wings mural is located for that perfect Nashville Insta moment. There are only a few hotels in this area, so you will most likely be staying in an Airbnb if you want to stay in The Gulch. The Airbnb I stayed in was spacious and had a well-equipped kitchen where I made breakfast and could keep leftovers to eat the next day. It was a comfortable space to decompress after days jam packed with sightseeing and bar hopping. Either location is a great place to stay. You will be able to easily get back and forth between each area, so you really can't go wrong. Basically, if you would prefer a hotel Downtown has more options. If you like spreading out in a more homey space with a kitchen, an Airbnb in The Gulch will be perfect for you! No matter what, I guarantee you will have an amazing time in Nashville!

Famous Angel Wings in The Gulch in Nashville, Tennessee There is so much to do in Nashville, you might think that you will not have any time for shopping. But that would be a mistake! There are several places you will want to check out in order to pick up those special gifts for family or friends left at home or that special something that will always remind you of your incredible trip to Nashville! The Gulch : You can find some of the usual chain stores like Urban Outfitters and Lululemon in The Gulch, but you can also find chic boutiques that have unique vibes with trendy clothing and home decor items. One store in particular that I loved was Kittenish, a very pink and very girly boutique owned by Jesse James Decker. The branding in the store was on-point and the prices were reasonable. Not to mention the confidence-building wall mural that says "You're like, really pretty!" It is just fun to shop there! There is also a store in The Gulch called Paddywax Candle Bar where you can sip mimosas and make your own candle with a variety of fragrances to choose from. Also make note that the Insta-famous Nashville wings photo spot is located in The Gulch so make time to snap that shot and include the hashtags #WhatLiftsYou #NashvilleGulch when you post it on Instagram. Confidence Building Store Displays Marathon Village: Marathon Village is a stop on the Old Town Trolley route. Marathon Motor Works is an old automobile factory that has been transformed into a unique retail complex. Stores here include Antique Archaeology (owned by American Picker's star Mike Wolfe), Jack Daniels and Harley Davidson stores that sell licensed merchandise, souvenir shops, an olive oil shop and a distillery and winery that offer tastings. In addition to the stores, there are artifacts from the auto manufacturing history that line the halls giving the location a unique and interesting feel. The half an hour time between Trolleys gives you just enough time to check out this area and hop back on to continue your Trolley tour. Broadway: Mixed in along the honky tonks on Broadway are stores that sell authentic cowboy apparel like boots and hats. They are ready to outfit you so you can fit in with the crowd. There is also upscale shopping right outside the Assembly Food Hall on 5th and Broadway with stores like Free People, Sephora, the Apple Store, Ariat and the Nash Collection (where I found my really cute NASH sweatshirt to remember my trip!). Let me know if you know of any other cute stores to check out on my next visit to Nashville. I always make time to fit in a little retail therapy!

You will most definitely be doing a lot of drinking in Nashville, so it is important to make sure you are eating enough to absorb that alcohol (or nurse that hangover). Most of the honky tonks on Broadway also serve food so that is your easiest solution. But you may want a break from the honky tonk craziness so you will want to find somewhere else to grab a bite. Here are some of the best-known food establishments in Nashville that you will want to check out: Prince's Hot Chicken or Hattie B's: Nashville is known for its' hot chicken, so you have to try it at least once while you are here. Prince's Hot Chicken is the original hot chicken restaurant. Hattie B's appears to be the most popular. At every Hattie B location there is a long line of customer's waiting to get a taste of the local favorite. Hattie B's has levels of hotness so you don't have to feel left out if your palate doesn't appreciate spicy. Their levels are described as Southern (No Heat), Mild (A Touch of Heat), Medium (Warming Up), Hot! (Feel the Heat), Damn Hot!! (Fire Starter), and Shut the Cluck Up!!! (Burn Notice). How brave are you? Hattie B's also has several other traditional southern foods on their menu so there is something for everyone. Famous Prince's Hot Chicken Famous Hattie B's Chicken Shop Assembly Food Hall: Assembly Food Hall is located on 5th and Broadway so it is a perfect place to grab a bite to eat while cruising up and down Broadway at the honky tonks. Assembly Food Hall has over 30 different eateries (including locations for Hattie B's and Prince's Hot Chicken), bars and three stages so you don't have to miss any live music while you eat. My friend got sushi and I got a wood fired pizza, so you can see the extent of the choices available. It is a great place to go if you are with a group because you can avoid the prolonged discussion about where you should eat when everyone is in the mood for something different. All the different options can be found here . Awesome Food Hall With Lots of Options . Biscuit Love: Biscuit Love is located in The Gulch and unfortunately I have never been because there is always a SUPER long line! I have included it in this blog because the consistent long lines are a sign that it must be pretty good. Biscuit Love is a local family-owned business that serves biscuits and breakfast. They started in 2012 with food trucks and now have three brick and mortar restaurants. Their location in The Gulch is open daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. My recommendation if you really want to try one of their award winning biscuits is to get up early and hopefully beat the line. Good luck! Get Here Early to Avoid the Line! Milk and Honey: Milk and Honey is another breakfast place in The Gulch. I got one of the best chocolate croissants in my life from Milk and Honey on my first visit. This time I tried the almond croissant and it was just as spectacular. They have sit down restaurant with a substantial menu, but again long lines have foiled my plans to check out the sit down options. I was "forced" to stick with the walk-up bakery options. Can't say I was disappointed. Yummy Breakfast Option Goo Goo Chocolate Co.: Goo Goo Clusters are Nashville's Official Candy. The store is located across from the Johnny Cash Museum and Bar. You can buy a variety of premade Goo Goo Clusters or you can design your own personal Goo Goo Cluster that will be made while you wait. The personalized Goo Goo can be made with a variety of sweets and add ins to satisfy your own unique sweet tooth. Click here to start planning what you want to include in the *I nsert Your Name Here * Goo Goo Cluster. We bought a few of the premade and each one was delicious! We tried the classic Pecan Goo Goo Cluster (pecans, caramel, and marshmellow nougat covered in milk chocolate), Lil Goos (peanuts, caramel and nougat covered in milk chocolate) and the PB&P Premium Goo Goo Cluster (peanut butter, caramel, and pretzels covered in dark chocolate). Another Nashville original you don't want to miss! Yee Haw Brewery/Ole Smoky Distillery: While tasting moonshine or a flight of Yee Haw craft beers, you can order from a unique variety of tacos from White Duck Taco Shop. Check out the various options here . Helpful hint: My daughters told me that that went to grab some food at Ole Smoky a little later in the day and many tacos options weren't available because they had run out. Apparently daily quantities are limited so if you want to eat here, you may want to consider going earlier in the day. I had a Thai chicken taco with mango salsa and it was delcious! My friend opted for a fish taco and was happy with her choice. Daddy's Dogs also has space at this location in case a Tennessee famous hot dog is what you are in the mood for. Check out the menu options for Daddy's Dogs here . Unique Tacos and a Beer Flight...Great Combo! FGL House: As I noted above, many of the honky tonks also serve food. I have eaten at the FGL House (partly owned by the country music duo Florida Georgia Line) a couple of times and it was delicious both times. FGL House also has a great rooftop with live music (of course!) which makes a great location to have dinner. Check out the FGL House menu here . There are many other options for delicious food in Nashville, but this list should get you started while trying to scout the area for restaurants that tickle your fancy! Let me know if you discover any other restaurant gems that should be included on this short list! Bon appetit!

Downtown Nashville at Night If you love listening to live music by talented musicians, you need to plan a trip to Nashville, also known as Music City, immediately if not sooner. Nashville has been the launching pad for many past and present popular musicians. As you walk up and down Broadway, there is live music playing in every bar all day and all night by excellent performers hoping to be discovered and make it big. Even if music isn't your cup of (sweet) tea, Nashville has plenty of other things to keep you occupied. There is amazing food, sporting events, museums, history, and lots of shopping. And don't forget the moonshine! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Nashville and I am sure you will love it too. Here is a list of my favorite things to do when I visit Nashville: Old Town Trolley Tours: My favorite thing to do when I get to a new location is check to see if they have a hop on/hop off tour bus. It gives me my bearings and I can determine what things I definitely want to see while I am there. In Nashville, the Old Town Trolley Tours has 14 different stops as it takes you around the city. Some of these stops will be specifically highlighted in this list, but there are many different stops that may be of particular interest to you. The great thing about the hop on/hop off is that it gives you transportation around the city and you can get off and explore where ever you choose. Another Trolley will be around to pick you up about every 30 minutes. To me the cost of the ticket is totally worth the benefits! Honkey Tonk Bar Crawl: Obviously! This is the main Nashville attraction. Most honky tonk bars are located on lower Broadway, known as Honky Tonk Highway. Live music starts at 10 am every morning and goes until 3 am! There are so many bars and honky tonks it is hard to know where to go. Some of it is just a trial and error effort. There are no cover charges in Nashville, so you can just walk up and down Broadway (and the nearby side streets) and pop into any place that looks interesting. Most bars pipe the music being played inside onto the sidewalk, so if you hear someone you like you can run inside to listen some more. Many of the bars have several different floors with a different band on each floor so make sure to check out every floor of a place you like. If it is a nice day or evening, be sure to head to the very top if the bar has a rooftop. Many of the bars in Nashville are partially owned (or inspired) by today's most popular country music stars: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton to name a few. So if you have a favorite country musician, check to see if they have a place and be sure to put that one on your list. Having been to Nashville twice now, I have found a couple of places that I consistently enjoy: Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row Honky Tonk Central Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock-n-Roll Steakhouse Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge-Especially the rooftop bar! Lucky Bastard Saloon-One of the newest honky tonks on Broadway. Nudie's Honky Tonk-A great spot for a rooftop selfie capturing Broadway lights in the background! Ole Smokey Distillery/Yee Haw Brewery: We discovered this place after a tip from a local and we are so glad we did! Definitely a fun way to spend an afternoon. Check out my blog on Ole Smoky here [ADD LINK HERE AFTER PUBLISHED]. Line Dancing Lessons at Wildhorse Saloon: The Wildhorse Saloon is an iconic Nashville venue. It has the largest dance floor in the downtown area and an expansive stage for live performances. There are two floors to view the stage and a suspended herd of wild horses on the ceiling. Line dancing lessons are free and taught by an instructor in between sets of live music. The schedule for performances and line dancing lessons can be found on the Wildhorse Saloon website . They also have a full menu, so you may want to consider this place for dinner and a show (plus a little bit of dancing). There really isn't too much room to line dance at the other honky tonks, so it is fun to have the opportunity and the instruction. Country Music Hall of Fame: This museum is really interesting and takes a few hours to get through. You will especially appreciate it if you are a big country music fan, but I think it is also interesting to music fans in general. There are lots of audio exhibits and it shows the progression of country music from where it started to where it is now. Ryman Auditorium: You can tour the building that was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. It is cool to see this historic venue up close and personal. There are still live performances at the Ryman and I have been told it is a fantastic place to see a show, so you may want to check out the schedule during your stay to see if you can catch one. Shopping: I love to get my retail fix in whenever I am traveling. Check out my blog on the best places to shop in Nashville here. [INSERT LINK TO BLOG ON SHOPPING IN NASHVILLE] Johnny Cash/Patsy Cline Museum: On my last visit to Nashville, I went to the Johnny Cash museum. It is small and doesn't take long, but costs $22.95. Personally, I didn't think it was worth it as I am not a huge Johnny Cash fan. However, for a true fan there was a lot of cool memorabilia that would be interesting. What I did enjoy was the Johnny Cash cafe/bar right next store. There was a cool "Johnny" vibe to the place. That doesn't cost anything to go in! I haven't done the Patsy Cline museum yet, but I do love her music so hopefully I can fit it in on my next Nashville trip. Gaylord Opryland/Grand Ole Opry: The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center complex is located outside of downtown Nashville. You will require a car or an Uber ride to visit. If you have not been before, it is worth the trip. The complex is amazing and is a one of a kind 9 acre atrium with indoor streams and gardens. There are a variety of activities, shopping and restaurants. Of course it is the current home to the iconic Grand Ole Opry. I went to a show at the Grand Ole Opry on my first visit and am glad I did it. I didn't feel the need to make the trek out there this time, but it is something that everyone who goes to Nashville should do at least once. Sporting Events or Concerts: I like to schedule some of my trips around a sporting event or concert that I want to see. That way, I can take in an event I would like to enjoy anyway, but also get to check out a new area! The Tennessee Titans play football at Nissan Stadium which is walking distance from downtown. The Nashville Predators play hockey at Bridgestone Arena which also hosts a variety of concerts and is located right on the Honky Tonk Highway. I planned my first visit to Nashville to see the Zac Brown Band at Bridgestone Arena and got the best tickets I have ever had for a concert at a reasonable price! I am spoiled now. If you are interested in going to Nashville, see if you can schedule it around an event or concert. So easy to do both here! Amazing Show by Zac Brown in Nashville There are many other things to do and see in Nashville. These are just a few of my personal favorites. What do you like to do when you are in Nashville? I will definitely be back so would love some recommendations for different things to do next time I am in town!

The Ole Smokey Distillery When you are in Tennessee you have to do like the natives do and drink some Tennessee Moonshine. My friend was looking to try some of the local craft beers as well, so we asked around to find our best options. A local suggested we check out the the Ole Smoky Distillery and it was a great recommendation! The Ole Smoky Distillery in Nashville has partnered with Yee Haw Brewing Company (one of Tennessee's top craft beer breweries) to occupy a great space on 6th and Peabody, just a short walk from lower Broadway. This fortunate partnership allowed us to taste moonshine and get craft beer at the same place! And there is so much more to do at this location. It has a huge beer garden area with rows of corn hole games and lots of seating. There are several large screen TV's for sports viewing and stages for live music. When you first walk into the Ole Smoky Distillery you are struck by the ceiling to wall display of all of the variety of flavors of Ole Smoky Moonshine and Whiskey. It is quite the sight! In addition to the traditional Moonshine made from a centuries old recipe developed when Moonshine was illegal, they have many other creative Moonshine flavors to tickle your taste buds...including Strawberry, Butter Pecan, Mountain Java, Apple Pie and White Chocolate Strawberry Cream. They also have Moonshine soaked Pickles, Cherries and Pineapples to add to your drink or food recipes to give them that extra kick! Flavored Whiskeys include Salted Carmel, Peanut Butter and Strawberry Lemonade. The Wall of Flavored Whiskey Ole Smoky Distillery offers a behind the scenes guided tour of the distillery and brewery operations. Tours are offered Monday through Thursday at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 (excluding holidays and weekends). You must book a reservation on-line for the guided tours and you have to be 21+ with a valid ID to participate in the included tastings. Find out more information and book your tour here . The cost is currently $44.95 for adults and $10 for children (must be at least 13 years old). The guided tour includes the following: Approximately one hour tour of on-side distillery and brewery along with a private 13 sample tasting of moonshine, whiskey and craft beer; Exclusive Tour T-Shirt (not available any where else!); $10 off Behind the Scenes Coupon to use on site in the store; 10% off coupon to use for on-site retail and merchandise (cannot be used for on-site food, cocktails or beer). If you aren't interested in the history of moonshine or how they make it and just want to get to the drinking part, you can do a walk in tasting. Tastings are available daily and no reservation is required. Just sidle up to the big bar in the middle of the room and start sipping! The cost for this "short tour" is $10. For that price you get a drink (either a Yee Haw craft beer or a seltzer) and several tastings of the flavored Ole Smoky Moonshine (flavors available for tasting may vary from day to day). After you complete the tasting you get a $10 coupon that you can use in the bar area for another drink or you can put it towards a purchase in the gift store (maybe some moonshine to take home?). So basically the tasting ends up being free...not to mention fun! We chose the "short tour" and sampled Blue Flame Moonshine (128 proof and basically tasted like Everclear-yuck!), Sour Cherry, Butter Pecan, Peanut Butter, and pickles and pineapples soaked in moonshine. Whiskey Tasting Is a Great Activity After we did our tasting, we made our way over to the bar so my friend Christina could sample the Yee Haw craft beer. She bought a flight of brews to try and enjoyed trying the various styles of beer. You Can Also Get a Flight of Yee Haw Microbrews As Well...Something for Everyone After all this drinking you will want to grab something to eat. You are in luck as the Ole Smoky Distillery offers several different types of tacos from White Duck Taco that are reasonably priced. The location also provides other snacks and Nashville's famous Daddy's Dogs for purchase. One note, I told my daughters they should grab a quick bite here before heading to the honky tonks but when they got there a little later in the day there were limited taco selections available. It appears that there is a limited quantity and once it is gone, it will be unavailable. Based on this, if you want to plan to grab something to eat at Ole Smoky you should go earlier in the day. I would definitely recommend carving out some time when you are in Nashville to check this place out. It was fun trying different flavors of moonshine/whiskey and my friend got her craft beer experience at the same time. The tacos were delicious and the vibe was fun. Maybe next time I will do the full tour for a more in depth experience! If you have done the tour, please leave a comment and let me know what you thought about it.

Historic Market Square: The Historic Market Square is an area "where the culture of San Antonio comes alive". There are over 100 locally owned businesses located in the Historic Market Square that allow you to enjoy the sights and flavors of old Mexico. You can find authentic Mexican curios and artifacts, hand-crafted leather goods and hand-woven Mexican blankets for $10. After shopping you can enjoy authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine at one of the several restaurants in the Square. Or you can just enjoy an authentic Mexican churro with your choice of dipping sauce! Yum! A trip to San Antonio is not complete without a visit to the Historic Market Square (and it is a designated stop on the Hop On/Hop Off tour bus). Find more information on the Historic Market Square here . La Villita Historic Art Village: La Villita Historic Art Village is located on the southern bank of the River Walk and is easy to get to while strolling on the River Walk or after your tour of the Alamo. The "Little Village" is an artisan village that has been listed on the U.S. Government's National Register of Historic Places. The cobblestone streets are lined by historic architecture opening up into spacious outdoor plazas. La Villita has a storied history, but these days serves as a mecca for artisans and entrepreneurs selling their wares in over 25 boutiques and performers entertaining visitors at cultural events throughout the year. La Villita is the perfect place to find specialty gifts and unique mementos to remember your San Antonio experience. I bought a beautiful hand embroidered kaftan at Villa Tesoros that caught my eye and I get numerous compliments every time I wear it! Pearl Shopping District: Another stop on the Hop On/Hop Off Tour Bus is the Pearl Shopping District. It is a little out of the way, so if you don't do the Tour Bus you will have to have transportation to get here if you don't want to hike all the way over from the River Walk area. If you do choose to go, you will find a lovely open shopping and dining plaza anchored by Pearl Brewery and the Culinary Institute of America. There are several different retailers located around the plaza that sell an eclectic mix of items from books, kitchen wares, free trade artisan crafts, home decor and clothing. There are also a number of different restaurants to choose from aside from the Brewery. On the weekends they have a large Farmer's Market with Saturdays dedicated to local farmers and ranchers and Sundays featuring local artisans. Definitely check out all that the Pearl Shopping District has to offer and plan to make a stop during your stay. Of course there are also larger chain stores around San Antonio, but since I can get to most of these places where I live I always seek out the local stores where I can pick up that perfect thing to remind me of my trip. You will certainly find that special memento at one of the places listed in this blog. Happy shopping!

San Antonio is a great city for a getaway because it has a variety of things to do! There are historic sites, great shopping, and of course, the Riverwalk! Here is a summary of the top spots: Walk or Cruise the River Walk: Once you arrive in San Antonio, the first thing you will want to do is check out the famous River Walk. You can stroll up and down both sides. There are several bridges that can take you up and over the river whenever you want to get to the other side. Check out all of the restaurants and shops that border the River Walk and decide which ones you want to return to during your stay! There are also free water taxis that will take you up and down the river throughout the day. You can also buy a ticket to take a guided cruise up and down the River Walk. We chose to do a cruise at night so we could see the River Walk all lit up. We also grabbed a slushy alcohol drink with flashing light cubes to enhance our experience! City Sightseeing Hop On/Hop Off Tour Bus: I always recommend doing these bus tours on the first day or two of your trip when they are available. Riding the full loop gives you a lay of the land and a little history about the area you are about to explore. We bought a package that included a two-day bus pass and the River Walk boat cruise mentioned above. Having a two day bus pass works to get you around the city and back to any places on the tour bus route that you want to return to. There are other packages that include discounted tickets to additional sightseeing spots. Check out all your options here . The Tour Bus has 19 stops that take you by 17 different points of interest including the Pearl Entertainment Complex with shopping, cafes and the Pearl Brewery; the San Antonio Museum of Art ("SAMA"); the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum; Towers of the Americas; Historic Market Square; La Villita Historic Arts Village and Alamo Plaza where you can tour the historic Alamo Mission (discussed below). The Alamo Mission: The most famous historical site in San Antonio is a must see! The Alamo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known as the "Shrine of Texas Liberty". The Alamo represents the heart of Texas pride and the spirit of its' people. I admit didn't know (or remember) the history of the area and I found the tour entertaining and educational. It gave me a whole new respect for the history of Texas in their fight to be independent. To do a self-directed tour you must reserve a FREE timed-entry ticket. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket for a guided tour that will give you a complete history of the Alamo with your own tour guide. I recommend the guided tour for the complete experience. You can find information on securing your timed entry ticket and tour prices here . Towers of the Americas: The 750 foot tall Tower of the Americas provides a panoramic view of San Antonio's skyline from the Tower’s Observation Deck. There is also a 4D Theater Ride. I didn't get a chance to do this, but would love to see that panoramic view of San Antonio. If you get a chance to do this, let me know how it was in the comments to this blog so future travelers will know if they should make time to include it in their plans. Shopping: There are many unique places to shop in San Antonio. Where to go depends on if you are looking for traditional Mexican artifacts, boutiques or souvenirs. Check out my blog on top places to shop in San Antonio here . HONORABLE MENTION: Buckhorn Saloon and Museum: I really wanted to go to the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum but I ran out of time. It will be at the top of my list when I go back. The Saloon first opened in 1881 and is heralded as a place where "history was made and legend lives". The Saloon is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited Rough Riders and Pancho Villa is rumored to have planned the Mexican Revolution. Many of the original furnishings are still there, including the cherry wood and marble back bar. The Buckhorn Saloon is not only a place to grab a meal or a drink, but it has a number of other attractions attached such as the Texas Ranger Museum and the Buckhorn Museum with an exotic animal collection (which were acquired as forms of payment in the early days when travelers didn't have money to pay). The website claims it will give you a "full Texas experience". The Buckhorn Museum, Saloon and Gift Store is open 365 days a year. The Cafe is open Friday through Sunday. The Saloon and Cafe are free, but you need tickets for the other attractions. Find more information on what you can do and see and ticket cost here . I loved my visit to San Antonio and highly recommend that it be added to your travel bucket list! It is perfect for a long family weekend or a quick girls' getaway.

If you find yourself in downtown San Antonio, you must take yourself to La Panaderia Bakery and Cafe . La Panaderia is owned by two brothers who grew up baking bread and pan dulce with their mother in Mexico. They decided to share their Mexican heritage and love of baking with their San Antonio community by opening the cafe in 2014. They had so many delicious choices it was hard to choose! Madison and I went with our sweet tooths and ordered a Chocolate Croissant and a Tequila Almond Croissant to share. That was a good decision because they were both incredible! I would have been disappointed to miss out on either. They were so fresh and flaky and had the perfect amount of filling. Yum! There are many other selections on the menu and they have several savory choices as well if sugar in the morning is not your thing. They have avacado toast, egg sandwiches (on flaky homemade croissants), eggs benedictine and other brunch items. They also have desserts if you want to pick up something for a sweet treat after a day of sightseeing! Link to the menu here so you can peruse your choices beforehand and not feel the pressure when you are standing in line and have to make a quick choice when its your turn. Believe me, the choice is not easy with all of the delicious optons. I know you will not be disappointed with a trip to La Panaderia! Let me know what you tried...it will help me make my choice next time I am in town.

Domingo is an open-air restaurant located beneath the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk where I stayed. The vibe is cool and relaxed, enhanced by the open air concept. The patio of Domingo is right on the River Walk so you can watch the boats float up and down the river and the people strolling along the River Walk. Domingo serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner and is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner, a family gathering or drinks with friends. I was there for a lovely mother-daughter dinner with Madison. Going to Domingo for dinner enhances the cozy ambiance with the lights of the Riverwalk creating a great atmosphere. Domingo serves Mexican dishes with South Texas flavors. Check out the menu here . Madison had the Grilled Adobo Chicken Tacos and said they were delicious. I had a basic Caesar salad and it was great...perfect ratio of dressing to lettuce! We split the Skillet Cornbread made with cheddar, zucchini, and green chiles and served with honey butter. It was AMAZING! While the food is definitely noteworthy, it is the drinks that add to the experience and create a memorable experience. The drinks are "agave forward beverages" that are styled with edible flowers creating a drink almost too pretty to drink...notice I said almost. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner experience at Domingo. From the location to the beautiful drinks and the delicious food it was wonderful evening. Check it out!

One of my Favorite Views! I love traveling! That's why I decided to start this travel blog. But I also love PLANNING my trips. I truly enjoy scouring the internet to figure out where to go and then really digging in to make the most of my time in the location I choose to visit. Time spent researching and planning your trip before you go generally makes for a more enjoyable relaxing vacation. This is not to say you shouldn't be flexible and leave time and space in your schedule for unplanned exploring and relaxation. But having a general framework for your getaway from the outset ensures that you have time to fit in all you want to see and do so you can just relax and enjoy! Here are the steps that I generally take when I decide it is time to plan my next trip: DECIDE WHERE TO GO Where to Go? Sometimes this is the hardest part! If you are like me, you have a Travel Bucket List a mile long that gets longer every time you see friends' pictures from their latest adventure, Instagram Travel Accounts or Pinterest posts. My mind flits from one place to the next with anticipation and honestly I can get overwhelmed. To narrow it down, I consider the following: Time of Year. What is the best time to visit some of your top spots? When you are planning to visit correspond to the activities you want to enjoy? Avoid the rainy or hurricane seasons in the warm weather locales. You don't want to spend the whole time hunkered down in your hotel room. Also, if you can, avoid peak tourist season and try to hit the "shoulder season" which is right before and right after the peak season. Not only will it be less crowded, but you may be able to find better deals. Finally, make sure you aren't going to be visiting a location during the slow season or during an important local holiday as places may be closed or have severely restricted hours/services. How Much Time Do You Have? If you only have a few days, choose a smaller location or somewhere close by. You don't want to spend a big chunk of the limited time you have traveling back and forth. If you plan to take a longer vacation, you can travel a further distance and should choose a location that may take longer to fully explore. Who Are You Traveling With? Whether you are going on a solo trip, a family vacation, a girl's getaway or a romantic rendezvous will greatly influence where you decide to go and what things you want to do when you get there. What Is Your Budget? Have you saved for that dream vacation you finally get to take or are you looking for a budget friendly getaway? As noted above, if you can hit the "shoulder season" of a location you are considering you may be able to find some deals. Do You Need a Passport or Visa? Make sure you know what documentation you need to visit a specific location. Some countries require a visa in addition to your passport. Even if a visa is not required, certain documentation may be required for entry. Check out Travisa.com to determine the requirements for places you are considering. If you need a passport and already have one, check the expiration date to make sure that your passport will remain valid for the entire length of your planned trip. If you need to get a new passport or a visa make sure you can secure those documents prior to your departure date. Check the State Department's website at travel.state.gov to check out the latest passport processing time estimates. As of June 2022, the State Department estimates that expedited applications (which cost a bit more) are taking 5-6 weeks and routine processing is taking 8-11 weeks (which does not include mailing time which may vary by region). The time required to secure a Visa may vary depending on the Embassy you need to work with to get visa approval. Special Events. One thing I like to do when narrowing down my travel choices, is to see if there is any kind of special event I may enjoy during my trip. Often I will attend a concert or a sporting event in addition to my "touristy" activities. Review the tour schedules of your favorite bands or the game schedules for your favorite sports team. If they line up with one of your possible destinations, that can help make your decision. I went to see Zac Brown Band at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee during one of my trips and was able to secure Pit tickets at a very reasonable price! They were some of the best seats I have ever had at a concert and made the whole trip especially memorable A Concert is a Great Thing to Plan Around! MAKE YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS Book your flight. Reserve accommodations. Consider whether you want to stay in a hotel or an Airbnb. This decision will be based on price, location and space needs. While initially an Airbnb may seem cheaper, make sure to look at the total cost for your stay as additional cleaning and booking fees are added at the end of booking which may erase any potential price disparities. Even if the Airbnb is more expensive, you may save money in the long run by having access to a kitchen to make some of your own meals. I especially like having access to a refrigerator and kitchen for breakfasts and snacks. In Venice, Italy we stayed at a beautiful Airbnb with a nice kitchen and made our own home cooked Italian meal with fresh ingredients from the local food store around the corner. It is a special memory and one that stands out from an incredibly memorable trip. Check out the scene below. Regardless of whether you stay in a hotel or Airbnb, I highly recommend skimming the reviews to confirm that the location is good, what amenities are available, and notice if there are any consistent complaints (about cleanliness, noise, service, etc.). Do you need a rental car? Consider whether there is adequate public transportation that you can utilize to get around and do all the things you plan to do. Can you join tour groups to do those things that are further away? Are you within walking distance of most sights? I often utilize the 48 hour ticket most hop on/hop off sightseeing bus tours offer to get back to certain spots I want to revisit after I take the initial tour. Many places also have access to taxis, Ubers or Lyfts that can provide needed transportation. Even if you decide you need to rent a car for certain things you want to do, can you just rent for a day or two as opposed for the entire trip? There is nothing worse then paying for a rental car that sits in the parking garage most days. RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION This is the fun part! The internet is the best tool to learn all you can about your chosen destination. I generally start with the Tourism website for the location. This gives you a general overview of the area and highlights the most obvious hotspots that the tourism board is proud of. Then I use Google search to find articles or travel blogs (like this one!) that provide useful insights and travel tips for the area I am traveling to. I will look at several different sites and notice what things consistently appear on the "Must See" lists. I take notes on any tips they provide about how to time tours, what things require prior reservations, and other helpful tips for making the most of the area. This research is also where I look for those lesser known spots that are charming or quaint and will provide a less "touristy" experience. Of course I want to see the Eiffel Tower when I am in Paris, but where are the places the locals frequent off the beaten path? CREATE A SCHEDULE AND WRITE AN ITINERARY From the research, make a list of the activities and sites that interest you. Research the things the want to see and do so you are aware of best times to visit and whether you need to make reservations or buy tickets way ahead of time. (For example, if you want to tour the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Oahu, there are limited advance tickets and even fewer next day tickets that become available every day at 7 am. If you don't plan ahead, it is likely you will not be able to visit this well-known historic attraction.) After I get the details for the things I have decided I want to do and see during my trip, I create a day-by-day agenda for each full or partial day I will be on vacation. When organizing this agenda, I consider the amount of time each activity will take, travel time to and from, will I need recovery or clean up time after a certain activity, are there sights/activities that should be grouped together because of location, does a tour or activity have to be done on a certain day or at a certain time because of availability, etc . I always cushion time frames in the schedule so I am not rushing from thing to thing and can relax and be present in the moment. I also make sure to leave open time so that I have space to include things that I discover while I am there. It is also important when creating your schedule to know yourself (and any fellow travelers) and anticipate if you will want or need afternoon refresher naps, early bedtimes, later start times, etc. Also, make sure you allow time for meals in your schedule. Nothing worse then being a hangry traveller! BOOK TOURS AND/OR BUY TICKETS If there is a tour or activity that you KNOW you want to do and it is a popular tourist attraction, consider booking your tour or buying entry tickets ahead of time. Once you have completed your itinerary, you will know the day and time for the tour/ticket. Hopefully your research indicated if a particular tour sells out early or needs to be done on a certain day or time so you will not be unpleasantly surprised and need to rearrange your carefully crafted schedule. I also recommend checking out Viator.com for packages that group together tickets to popular attractions at a discounted price. Usually these tour packages include "skip the line" access to the attraction so you don't have to waste precious vacation time standing in entry lines. I DON'T buy tickets ahead of time if I am not concerned about it booking up or selling out so that I can maintain some flexibility in the schedule if I need to switch things around due to unplanned weather, new discoveries, or unanticipated delays. Make copies of all tickets and purchase confirmations so you have easy access to confirmation numbers, pick-up information (if transportation from your hotel is provided), address for attraction (if you have to get there yourself), meet-up time and other details. If I am going on a long trip with lots of planned activities, I will keep all this documentation organized in a folder that I bring in my personal item carry-on. TAKE CARE OF HOME WHILE AWAY When it gets closer to your departure time, make sure you have done everything you need to do to take care of your home base while you are gone. Things to consider: Stop mail or arrange for someone to bring your mail in so it does not accumulate in your mailbox alerting people that you are not home. Also consider whether you need to arrange for someone to take your trash out or care for indoor or outdoor plants while you are away. Arrange for care of your pets. In-home visits by a neighbor (this is great job for a younger child in the neighborhood to earn some extra cash and learn responsibility!) or an in-home pet care company allow your pet to stay comfortable at home while you are wandering the world. My daughter has used a pet care company and they send daily pictures of her cat from each visit to reassure her that he is doing okay. An alternative is to take your pet to a traditional boarding kennel or cattery. Call your credit card company to alert them that you will be traveling. Failure to do this may result in your credit card from being declined putting a big damper on your vacation! Consider where you are traveling and whether an international cell plan needs to be considered. You can choose to rely on wifi to check messages or use FaceTime to keep in touch with loved ones, but wifi can be spotty in areas and leave you stranded or having to use costly international data. PACK FOR YOUR TRIP Check out my separate blog on how to pack (and also how NOT to pack) here. Beginning to pack is exciting because it means your well-planned trip is getting close! ENJOY! Your trip is here! All of your work to research and plan your great vacation will pay off. Relax and know that everything is in place for you to have an incredible, memorable getaway. Bon voyage!

Jo's Coffee: Breakfast Tacos are a must have when visiting Austin and Jo's Coffee is a perfect place to go to try them out. There Jo's locations on South Congress, Downtown and in Red River so you have several options to grab your breakfast taco fix. Each location serves a variety of breakfast tacos, oatmeal and granola for breakfast along with several different coffee drinks and teas. The breakfast tacos are available from 7 am until they are gone (so you may want to stop by early). The lunch menu includes grilled chicken tacos, deli sandwiches and salads available from 11 am until gone. Jo's offers an assortment of drinks (including sodas, Topo Chico, and a rotating selection of local beers and Frose). Check out Jo's menu here . Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ: Another thing you have to eat when in Texas is good ol' BBQ! There are many BBQ places to pick from and I am sure they are all fantastic. We went to Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ and really enjoyed the vibe and the food! Cooper's is open seven days a week from 11 am to 10 pm. They offer several different cuts of meat that are cooked on the open fire right in front of you. Madison got brisket and I got the chopped beef sandwich. They have several traditional southern side dishes, including a Macaroni and Cheese that was incredible! Dessert options include several different flavors of fruit cobbler with ice cream. We were stuffed but satisfied when we left! Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill: The motto for Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is "Bootlegged & Bountiful" and you gotta love any place with a motto like that! Their website says they serve "Classic American Comfort Food" and I can attest to that. The vibe in the restaurant was really cool and the food was delicious! We left stuffed...uncomfortably so. This restaurant is always packed so reservations are a good idea. 1886 Cafe & Bakery: This quaint Victorian-style cafe is attached to the Driskill Hotel. They are open until 2 pm for breakfast and lunch. They serve traditional Texas comfort food made with time-honored recipes. They also use locally sourced ingredients. We had a delicious breakfast there one morning before heading out to explore Austin. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream: Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is an incredible ice cream store with its flagship Austin shop right on South Congress ("SoCo"). They have really unique flavors such as Everything Bagel, Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flakes, Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Gooey Butter Cake, and Brambleberry Crisp. You definitely need to stop here for refreshment after an afternoon of shopping in SoCo! BONUS RECOMMENDATION: Austin Eastciders Cider: This last recommendation is not a place to eat, rather it is a hard cider that is produced locally and it must be tried if you are a fan of hard ciders. I had the Blackberry Cider and it was amazing! These are just a few of the many great restaurants in Austin where you can sample some good ole Southern cooking. Let me know if you discover any other eateries that should be highlighted for future Austin tourists!